Darien Official Objects To Proposed Stamford Cannabis Dispensary

DARIEN, CT — Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky on Wednesday issued a statement objecting to a proposed cannabis dispensary in nearby Stamford.

On April 9, the Stamford Planning Board recommended a special permit request from Nautilus Botanicals to open a hybrid cannabis dispensary at 1308 E. Main St., the site of The Boatyard BBQ & Grill.

The site is on the easternmost edge of Stamford, south of I-95, directly on the west bank of the Noroton River and across from Darien.

Next up, the city's zoning board will hold a public hearing on the application. A date has not yet been posted.

Zagrodzky said the Stamford Planning Board's recommendation "raises a number of concerns."

He pointed to the proposed facility being "uncomfortably close" to multiple preschools at Noroton Presbyterian Church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, St. John's Catholic Church and the Darien YMCA.

Additionally, Zagrodzky said, longstanding businesses in the area will be affected.

"The town of Datien will work to ensure that affected residents and businesses are aware of the important meetings as well as their rights in this process, including how future decisions might be appealed," Zagodzky said.

"Marijuana remains troubling for many reasons, not the least of which is it snegative effect on driving skills and on the development of our young people," Zagrodzky added.

"The opening of a cannabis business so close to the Darien border is deeply concerning, which is why our own Planning & Zoning Commission recently initiated zoning rule changes to ban stores like this. I object to the decsion of the Stamford Planning Board, and I urge those with similar concerns to stay apprised of the approval process and make their voices heard."

Stamford currently has two hybrid cannabis dispensaries — Curaleaf at 814 E. Main St., which is further west of the proposed dispensary, and Fine Fettle at 12 Research Drive, which is less than 2 miles north from 1308 E. Main St.

Fine Fettle is located less than a mile from the Darien border and Holmes Elementary School, but the store is tucked back in an industrial area.

Nautilus Botanicals, which is based in Bridgeport, had proposed a different location for a dispensary in Stamford several months ago at 110 E. Main St., the former site of the drive-thru grocery store The Barn. The proposal was denied by the Stamford Zoning Board due to parking issues.

The current site has more parking than is required by zoning regulations, and the planning board expressed support for the new location.

Nautilus Botanicals is the contract purchaser of the property.

"I like this location much better than the last one. I like the parking especially. That was one of our problems in the last one. I think it's far back on the property that when people come in there will be sufficient parking," said Planning Board Chair Theresa Dell during the April 9 meeting.

Read more on the proposed dispensary here.

Patch reached out to Lenny Braman, attorney for the applicant, Nautilus Botanicals, on Wednesday